Signal-horn.



M. F. 6; P. J. FITZGERALD.

SIGNAL HORN.

APPLICATION FILED 001229, 1913.

1,1%5,0831 Patented Jan. 19,1915.

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10H menses M. F. & P. J. FITZGERALD.

SIGNAL HORN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. 1913.

1,125,083, Patented Jan.19, 1915.

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MAURICE F. -FITZGERALD AND PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, 0F TORRINGT ON,

CONNECTICUT.

SIGNAL-HORN.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that we, MAURIcE F. FITZ- GERALD and PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, citizens of the United States, residing at Torrington, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Horns; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to signals for automobiles and other vehicles, but more particularly to a horn having a diaphragm arranged and adapted to be vibrated by a motor for the purpose of giving forth -a. warning signal which is audible for a great distance and which isclear in tone and not displeasing to the ear.

.Vith this object in view the, invention consists in the novel construction of the striker mechanism for vibrating the horn diaphragm; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in certain novel instrumentalities for producing an unbroken series of hammer blows upon the diaphragm.

In the usual construction of mechanism for vibrating diaphragms of this character certain cam constructions are employed which in operation have a wiping action on the diaphragm which is not conducive to the proper vibration of the same. We have found by careful experimenting in this art that the proper blow upon the diaphragm in order to roduce the best and most efficient vibrating of the same is a direct hammer blow the diaphragm. Such a blow upon the diaphragm when given in rapid succession produces a. vibration of the causes the same to emit a clearresonant sound superior in quality to the sound emitted from the diaphragm when the same is given a wiping blow as is usual in this class of instruments.

eferring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a signal horn constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the vibrating diaphragm. Fig. 3 is a front Specification of Letters Patent.

struck parallel with the axis of diaphragm which elevation of the striker diaphragm and bell or horn being removed. Fig. it is a fragmentary view of the striker mechanism illustrating the same in its normal position shown in dotted lines and also illustrating the same in its operative position shown in full lines, and Fig. 5 is a diagran'imatic edge elevation of the diaphragm illustrating the striker mechanism in full and dotted lines, the purpose of this view being toshow the hammer action of the striker mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures .in which; 1 indicates the device which comprises the bell or horn 2, motor 3, vibrating diaphragm 4 and striker mechanism 5, it being of course understood that any suitable motor either electric, manually operated or other type can .be employed in connection with this invention without many way departing therefrom, as we lav no claim in this applicationv to any specific motor for driving the striker mechanism.

Referring now to the vibrating diaphragm a it will be seen that the same is suitably secured at its periphery at 6 in orderto rigidly hold thesame in, proper position in relation'to the striker mechanism 5, and it will be seen that a series of projections 7 are arranged on the face of the diaphragmfor engagement by the striker mechanism 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 with particular relation to Fig. 4 it will be seen that upon the shaft 8 of the motor we arrange a resilient member 9, said resilient member being preferably a piece of flat spring metal so secured to the shaft 8 by means of a nut 10 as to rotate with the shaft.

Upon the resilient member 9 and near the ends thereof we provide a rounded projection 11 and upon the opposite side of the resilient member 9 and at each end thereof'we provide a counterpoise 12. aving thus described the several parts of this invention its operation is as follows Upon rotation of the striker mechanism 5 the counterpoise on each end of the resilient mechanism, the

Patented Jan. 19, 1915. 7 Application filed October 29, 1913. Serial No. 798,077.

v the two projecting elements member is carried by centrifugal force lnto position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

his movement as will be clearly apparent from an inspection ot the accompanying drawing, causes ent member 9 to be brought in line of strong contact with the projections 7 on the \ibrat ing diaphragm 4. As soon projections 7 on the diaphragm at is engaged by one of the projections 11 on the resilient member 9 of the striker mechanism the projections 7 thus engaged throw the projection 11 of the resilient element 9 away from the diaphragm and instantly the centrifugal force acting on the counter-poise 12 throws the projection 11 on the. striker mechanism into engagement withthe next or succeeding projection 7 on the vibrating diaphragm l exactly in the manner as is illustrateddiametrically in Fig. Thus it will be seen that upon proper rotation of the striker mechanism each of the projections 7 on the vibrating diaphragm 4c is given a direct hammer blow by the projecting elements 11 ot the striker mechanism in such manner that a proper vibration is imparted to the vibrating diaphragm to cause the same to emit a clear penetrating and resonant sound.

A further advantage'derived from this construction is that practically'no sound is emitted from the horn until the motor hasreached a sufiicientspeed to cause the striker mechanism to be brought into strong con tact with the diaphragm by means of cen- 'trifugal force; consequently the motor is allowed to attain a Copies of this patent may be obtained for of each counterpoise 12 I causes the resilient member 9 to assume the. position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, which,

11 on ,the resiliclose relation to said diaphragm, as one of the 'by centrifugal high number of revolutions before the striker mechanism engages strong vibration thereof.

Having thus fully described the invention What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device-of the character described, a diaphragm, series of projections thereon, a rotatable striker mechanism located in said striker mechanism including a flexible member, projections .mounted thereon in line of slight contact with the projections on said iaphragm, and weighted elements on said striker mechanism to flex said flexible element and to move said projections thereon force into strong contact with said projections on said diaphragm upon rotation of said striker mechanism.

2. In a device of the character describeda diaphragm,

a series of projections thereon, a rotatable strikermechanism located in close relationto said diaphragm, said striker including flexibly mounted therewith to engage said mechanism means rotatable projections on said diaphragm and includ ing means free to move under the influence of centrifugal force and rotatable with said striker mechanism to move said flexibly mounted means of said striker mechanism into strong contact with said projections on said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof, we afiixour signatures, iii-presence of two witnesses.

' MAURICE F. FITZGERALD. PATRICK J. FITZGERALD.

Witnesses:

MARCENE B; DUNBAR, MARY E. CUsmNo. I

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

. j Washington, D. 0. 

